LISBON, PORTO & THE DOURO

The ultimate Portugal experience!

Tuesday September 10 to Saturday September 21, 2024 (Depart Monday September 9 from Toronto) SOLD OUT

(Note: Click on the arrows below the photo on the top of this page to view all the photos)

Personal concierge services of Kato Wake and Billy Munnelly • 11 Nights Accommodation Ensuite • 9 Gourmet Dinners with Wine • 6 Lunches with Wine • 11 Breakfasts • Private Tile Painting Class • Guided Tour of a Romantic Garden at a Winery • VIP Winery Visits and Tastings • Billy and Kato’s Walking Tours of Lisbon and Porto • Private Boat Cruise on The Douro • Introduction to the Literature of Fernando Pessoa • Alfresco Lunch with Breathtaking Views of the Douro • Port Tasting • Country relaxation • Private Tour of Lisbon’s Tile Museum • A Special Cooking Class • Private Coach Transportation • Return Airport Shuttle from Porto • Intimate Fado Music Concert …and a few surprises!

“Portugal is the most exciting wine place on the planet today.”

Matt Kramer, Wine Spectator

We are often asked “Which is your favourite tour?” “All of them!” we reply, because each is our own creation – with stuff we love to do. However, we have a particular fondness for Portugal. Partly because we went there before it became wildly popular, and we love the modern-rustic style of the country. And what’s not to love about the food and the warm-hearted people who seem to be born with the service gene. Portugal also offers a great variety of experiences from city to coastal to mountainous, and lots in between. It’s impossible to stop taking pictures.

Our Tour starts in Lisbon, moves out the coast to beautiful Cascais, then north to the Douro Valley, and finishes in Porto. We call this Portugal’s Golden Triangle.

While Lisbon is Portugal’s heartbeat with impressive places of historic interest it is the light, the colours, and natural beauty that captures most hearts. The hills account for the many great vistas, especially from Miradouros (vantage points) with outdoor cafés inviting you to have a drink and linger – as the locals do. Not sure if it’s the pinks and greens, or the red-tiled roofs, or the fresh sea air, but there’s an impression of the Mediterranean – the feeling of a southern city. Writer Paul Buck best describes Lisbon: “No-one has quite summed it up, and because of that, you can make it your very own.” I’m sure you will.

Our three-day Lisbon stay includes exploring on foot – popping in and out of the exciting shops and cafés of Principe Real and Chiado, getting lost in the mysterious alleyways of the Alfama (Moorish), and wandering down to the inviting blue waters of the Tagus river – always stopping long enough to breath in the city, and fall in love with its tranquil pace. An introduction to the works of poet Fernando Pessoa, and a tile painting class are a few planned activities you can look forward to. And Fado, of course. There will be an opportunity to visit the region of Belem, home to architectural wonders from Portugal’s ‘Age of Discovery’. Belem is also home to the Berardo gallery with its amazing collection of contemporary art. And the must-see MAAT Gallery – stunning modern architecture built right on the riverbank.

You’ll enjoy a full range of dining experiences from back street café, to some of the city’s wonderful modern restaurants. And you’ll experience a wonderful Cooking Class at the renown Ribeira “Time Out” Market…the best party in town!

South of Lisbon we’ll visit the colourful wine region of Setubal. Sip luscious Moscatel wine in a magical garden, complete with a pond and pavilions – followed by a VIP candlelit lunch in a winery cellar.

Our Lisbon accommodation will be at an “old world meets hip” establishment, bordering the city’s swanky and bohemian neighbourhoods – everything within walking distance.

“Billy and Kato spent a lot of time organizing this trip and it showed. Many of the places we stayed, the food we ate, and experiences we enjoyed, would not have been possible if we were on our own. The accommodations were first rate, the restaurants and meals were excellent and there were new and surprising experiences each day. We did not know that Portugal had so much to offer, but Billy and Kato did, and they were delighted to share it with us. If you are looking for a first class trip that offers great value and lots of wonderful experiences, travel to Portugal with Billy and Kato.” C & W Boyd, Ancaster

On day four we move out the coast to the beautiful fishing/arty/elegant town of Cascais. During our two days there we’ll take trips to romantic gardens and palaces, and maybe a stroll on one of the wildest surfing beaches in Europe. You will have free time to enjoy the local stores, galleries and promenades – or you may want to chill at a beach café.

Next, it’s time to head north where our first stop will be the historic and beautiful town of Tomar with its truly amazing castle and monastery. Dinner at a Medieval restaurant, of course! Dao is one of my favourite Portuguese reds and you’ll experiences some of these with lunch at Paco dos Cunas – in the company of the vivacious Ana. Later that day we arrive at our country home for the next two days.

“Kato and Billy put so much thought into our tour of Portugal, which allowed us to really experience the culture, learn the history and savour the flavours. They introduced us to so many lovely people, who shared Kato and Billy’s passion for creating magical moments. And they took us to places we would not likely have found (or got into) on our own. Cannot “obrigado” you enough!” C. Wood, Oakville

“We just returned from the most fantastic trip to Portugal. Truthfully, it was the best vacation I’ve ever had. Billy and Kato selected wonderful wineries, restaurants and activities ““ the days were filled with great food and delicious wines. The group size was perfect. What a great job you did planning this adventure – thank you Billy and Kato!”  M. McLeod, Newmarket

In the valley of the Douro River you’ll see some of the most stunning scenery anywhere. Breathtaking for sure! Although the Douro was originally famous for Port wine, it now produces some great reds, whites, and sparkling too. Our home on the Douro will be at a boutique wine hotel with an amazing view and gardens. Just gorgeous, Well tempt you with a boat ride on the river – or a vineyard stroll to see the Douro’s vineyard terracing up close. You won’t want to miss these outings, or the almost-sunset bocce finals back on the terrace of our hotel.

Porto is home for our final three nights. Expect a city full of old world charm with red-tiled roofs tumbling down the hills to the riverbank – which is lined with restaurants on one side, and Port lodges on the other. Best urban planning in the world! Porto’s centre is now a World Heritage Site.

We love Porto’s combination of old grandeur, rough edges, and up-to-the-minute cool. It’s very stroller friendly with its cobbled streets, and its fondness for design is apparent in concept stores (take Kato’s shopping trip) and trendy cafes (join Billy’s architecure and bar trip). You’ll have free time in Porto to indulge in your own interests. There is no shortage of good restaurants, and for our farewell dinner we’ll take you to one our favourites. We’ve organized this tour so you can enjoy direct flights to Lisbon and return directly from Porto. (Of course, should you want to continue your exploration of this great country, we are more than happy to forward you our suggestions.)

“Words cannot express how wonderful this whole experience has been. What a wonderful 11 days it has been. I will never forget it.” S. Jones, Mississauga

“So amazing! I’m not sure there are words to express what we all experienced. Definitely a trip we will remember forever! What Kato and Billy do is phenomenal – so glad you took us all along for the ride!” P. Black, Carrying Place

YES!! WE LOVE PORTUGAL!

We were smitten with Portugal on our first visit well over ten years ago. Just about everything – the look, the feel, appealed to our sensibilities. We could not believe the grandeur of the old and the new. How the streets were paved in magical patterns of black and white, and how courteous the people were. The hills of Lisbon was our first love but we’ve since fallen for other magical places that you will visit. Our promise is that you will experience a mix of the best and the interesting, as you enjoy out-of-the-ordinary experiences – ones that capture what’s special about the country. Expect to fall in love. Hope you decide to join us on this great adventure! Travel magazines have started listing Portugal as the #1 place to go in Europe.

LISBON, PORTO & THE DOURO VALLEY

Tuesday September 10 to Saturday September 21, 2024 (Depart Monday September 9 from Toronto) SOLD OUT

THIS A LAND TOUR ONLY. The tour starts officially on the first night at 6pm at our Lisbon hotel. TICO #2392471

Group size 18-20

NOTE: Most of our destinations in Portugal are very hilly and we plan to do a lot of exploring on foot, so pretty good physical shape is required.

COST
$7,295 per person, based on double occupancy, in Canadian currency, taxes included.
$1,895 single room supplement

NOTE: Our Lisbon hotel has no rooms with two beds. For friends travelling together you will have your own room for the three nights in Lisbon – with a reasonable surcharge of  $450 CND to cover the cost.

INCLUDED IN THIS TOUR
Personal Concierge Services of Kato and Billy
9 Dinners with wine
6 Lunches with wine
11 Breakfasts
11 Nights Accommodation
Private tour of Lisbon’s Tile Museum
Exclusive tile Painting Class
Several VIP Winery Tastings
Billy and Kato’s Walking Tours
Boat Cruise on the Douro River
Introduction to the Literature of Fernando Pessoa
Alfresco Lunch with Breathtaking Views of the Douro River
Intimate Fado Music Concert
A Special Cooking Class
Private Coach Transportation throughout Portugal
Return airport transfer to Porto airport on official flight
…and a few surprises!

Best Bottles Inc reserves the right to make minor changes in the itinerary.

NOT INCLUDED:
Airfare
Transportation from Lisbon airport to our hotel
A few meals not mentioned
Bar and after dinner drinks
City taxis
Gratuities
Personal items
Travel and Medical Insurance
Any additional transfers before or after the tour that are not part of the tour schedule

OFFICIAL FLIGHTS

Air Transat  480  09SEP  Monday Toronto – Lisbon  Direct Flight
Toronto Departure 930P  Arrival   935A  10SEP Tuesday (or you can take any Air Transat flight to Lisbon a day or two earlier – we’ll give you our guide of what to do, see and eat!)

RETURN: Air Transat  765  21SEP  Saturday Porto – Toronto Direct Flight  Departure   130P   Arrival   425P

HOW DO WE DIFFER FROM OTHER TOURS?

We must start by telling you that we never set out to conduct tours. However, after a few trials with friends we sensed that there was an interest in our style of travel. Found a niche as they say. Original and generous were the two most used words we heard to describe what we offered, and not surprisingly as our itineraries were of our own making. We did not see the point of taking people to over-crowded, guide book’ places. It is impossible to catch the feelingof a place when you’re lost in a sea of fellow travellers. We still deliver WOWs, but without the hassles and crowds. And generous might have something to do with how much wine we were pouring.

We have sought out parts of a country that offer a sense of the whole, thereby delivering the experience without long travel times. Spending less hours on the road attempting to see it all gives us more quality time in towns, galleries or cafés. Feet on the ground as opposed to bum on a bus, seeing better over seeing more.

Most of the experiences we offer are either not available off-the-street, or would require a lot of work to secure.

We love the time at table so most evenings we all dine together, at a hand-picked restaurants where we have arranged something special – for an experience not available to the general public. You can expect everything from gourmet to rustic with seating in small groups for an intimate experience. But we’re not opposed to a little rowdiness! We stay at smaller, non-chain hotels away from the tourist bustle.

Have to admit we are not huge history buffs, but we do allow enough free time for those who want to visit churches and museums. Think of us as the anti Trip Advisor, seeking instead the alternative – the unexpected. The kind of tour you’d imagine from a local, as opposed to a Tour company. If you have never travelled with a group before, fear not. Think of the possibilities for fun with a group – ‘adult camp’ as Kato calls it. It may be the best party you ever attended.

Expect to eat and drink too much, and love every minute of it.

In each of our destinations we concentrate on the things that are special or unique: rural pubs in Ireland as they are the hub of a community, historic grandeur combined with sleek contemporary design in Portugal, and the effortless, indescribable sense of style in France. Crafting beauty in everything is Italy’s great skill, and that includes food and wine. We ask that our travellers take the time to know something of, and respect the culture we are visiting – your comfy Adidas and litre of Pepsi are not a fitting image beside a French bistro.

WHO SHOULD TRAVEL WITH US?

Those with a love of adventure and social interaction are obvious candidates. On the physical side, good walking ability and drinking stamina are not only essential, but mandatory. Meals are on the European clock – starting late and finishing late – celebrating time at the table. Basically we invite people who are interested in stepping outside their comfort zone and embracing a European experience. Filling the eyes, bellies and imagination with things unfamiliar. We welcome people who come hungry for activity and participation. Please do NOT come with us if you want a conventional, sightseeing tour with no participation on your part.

Finally a word on why we do not publish detailed, daily itineraries. One reason is we like to remain flexible and work around weather and local events. But more importantly, we believe that the best travel experiences are built around daily surprises – a trust between the host and the guests. Those who have travelled with us have said that they enjoyed the surprise element as it kept them in the moment. We ask that you greet us with enthusiasm, a trusting open mind, good health, and an empty wine glass (not for long!).

Every tour we’ve run has sold out and many guests are repeat offenders.

READ ALL TESTIMONIALS HERE

“The tour was truly exceptional in wining, dining and experiencing the culture and hospitality of the Portuguese people. The attention to detail by our hosts Billy and Kato was outstanding and made it a trip that is unforgettable! Many thanks for such a wonderful adventure and the opportunity to gain so many new friendships!” V. Huehn, Kingston

“Greg and I wanted to thank you again for another amazing vacation. Portugal was wonderful and truly a hidden gem. Every part of the tour was perfectly planned down to the last detail and included something for everyone from museums, spectacular gardens, shopping tours all woven around Portugal’s culture of amazing food, wine and history. Every day was filled with unforgettable moments (so many to list). On your tour, we got to see and experience the more “authentic” Portugal. Thank you for making this such a fun and memorable trip.” S Green-Jones and G Jones, Markham

“We have been with Billy and Kato in France, Ireland, Piedmont and Portugal and are going back to Ireland with them again next year. You won’t find anything like the experiences you will have with them. They are warm and charming people and the ambience among your small group of fellow-travellers is special.” The Hannafords, Burlington

“The Billy and Kato Portugal tour is not your usual group tour – in fact, the experience is ‘“ouro sobre azur” (gold over blue = perfection). Because Billy and Kato have been doing group tours in Portugal for some time, they have sourced out and are well connected with owners of some of the most unique hotels, restaurants, quintas and other venues in Portugal. They ensure that things run “as smooth as silk” and that each traveller feels special and important.” Ken Burford and Yvonne Millman, Toronto

“If you are searching for a tour that involves many visits to churches, museums, up at dawn and in bed by 10, then this tour is NOT for you. But, if you are seeking an unforgettable tour with daily surprises and exciting experiences involving food and wine then this IS the tour for you!! My first trip to Portugal ““ what an experience!! Kato and Billy are excellent hosts. Each day brought new and unexpected delights, from wineries, food photography, Fado singers, poetry, to the most gorgeous scenery and excellent food. As a single traveler, I found this tour to have the most cohesive and friendly group, no doubt in part to both Billy’s and Kato’s friendliness, knowledge and organization. This is a trip not to be missed. I will most certainly travel with them again and highly recommend this tour.” Meryl, Wellandport

“Total pleasure and happiness! Everything you had planned out was a first class surprise. I would go back in a heartbeat!” Ami, Montreal

“Buy lottery tickets! Sell your house! Do everything in your power to join Billy and Kato on next year’s Portugal trip. BEST HOLIDAY OF MY ENTIRE LIFE ““ the wines, the food, the art + architecture, the people, the scenery, the creative force, the surprises”¦” Leigh D., Toronto

“I was fortunate enough to be with Billy and Kato on their 2013 Piedmont wine tour in Italy. I couldn’t imagine how they would match, let alone improve on that experience when in 2014 I joined them again on their Lisbon trip. Well, by golly, they did. They seem to have a knack for putting a disparate group of travellers, albeit wine lovers, together and making the experience quite something special. I would highly recommend joining them on any of their endeavors.” Wally Anderson, Simcoe

READ ALL TESTIMONIALS HERE!